Acer -- like most notebook computer manufacturers -- doesn't supply its customers with physical discs for restoring their system in the event of a crash. Instead, Acer installs a recovery program on a separate hard-drive partition that is used to restore the system to its factory default settings. This program on Acer Aspire laptops is called eRecovery.

Components

The two main components to Acer's eRecovery software each have a distinct and important function. The eRecovery Management, which can be accessed through the Start Menu, is a graphic interface that provides backup options for your system. Use this program to make backup discs on DVD or CD-ROM. Use these discs later to restore your system in the event of a hard-drive failure. Acer's recovery package also includes the core program, simply called eRecovery, which can't be accessed from Windows. This portion of eRecovery is used to restore your system in the event of a corrupt operating system.

Your "Two" Hard Drives

You may have noticed that your Acer laptop computer has two hard drives listed in My Computer: a "C" drive and a "D" drive. While these are physically the same hard disk drive, the two are virtually separated using a partition, and the "C" drive acts as a main system disk with operating system files, your personal files and programs. The "D" drive may be called "Backup," but it isn't used as a backup drive; rather, it contains the eRecovery backup image needed to restore your system. The "D" partition is always relatively small and doesn't use a significant portion of your available storage space, but its existence explains why your available hard drive space is always a little less than you think it should be.

Using eRecovery

When your operating system or some of the original programs stop working correctly, eRecovery is a helpful tool for getting your Acer laptop up and running again. ERecovery restores all of the original software and drivers to your computer. Click "Start," "All Programs," "Acer" and "Acer eRecovery Management." Choose "Restore" from the first window that appears, and then choose "Reinstall Drivers and Applications." Choose the specific driver or program you need to reinstall, and then follow the on-screen prompts to complete the process.

Making Backups

The eRecovery Management can also be used to create backups of your system, even when it is working fine. Open eRecovery Management and choose "Backup" from the main window. You have two choices here: a full backup, which takes time but effectively takes a snapshot of your system, including all applications, drivers and files; or an incremental backup, which just records the system configuration but won't save files.

Restoring the System Fully

In the event of a complete crash, press "Alt" and "F10" during the system's startup (as soon as you press the power button) to enter eRecovery mode. This returns your system to its factory settings, erasing all programs and personal files in the process. Only use this method as a last resort, when all other troubleshooting steps have been exhausted.

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About the Author

Living in Canada, Andrew Aarons has been writing professionally since 2003. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in English literature from the University of Ottawa, where he served as a writer and editor for the university newspaper. Aarons is also a certified computer-support technician.